Unit providing mechanical movement responsive to temperature changes



May 9, 1950 E. P. DE CRAENE 2,507,456

UNIT PROVIDING MECHANICAL MOVEMENT RESPONSIVE T0 TEMPERATURE CHANGES Filed July 29, 1948 4 Z7 ZZ76% 02." EJ 77102?! Fa 57 062642.

Paten ted May 9, 1950 UNIT PROVIDING MECHANICAL MOVEMENT RESPONSIVE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES Edmond P. De Craene, Westchester, Ill., assignor to Crane 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 29, 1948, Serial No. 41,256

This invention relates to a temperature responsive element and constitutes an improvement over the construction shown in the patent application Serial No. 212 filed January 2, 1948,

v of which I am a co-inventor.

This invention is more particularly concerned with a novel thermal unit providing improved mechanical movement in response to temperature changes.

More specifically, this invention relates to a type of temperature responsive element for use in controlling accurately mixed water temperatures, as for example, in the type of valves useful in connection with automatic washing machines such as the type shown and described in patent application Serial No. 790,638 filed December 9, 1947. In the latter type of construction it will be apparent that it is desirable to provide a device having a relatively large range of axial movement within a relatively smaller limited range of temperatures so that the desired valve actuation may be easily accomplished.

Heretofore, however, in devices of this type as referred to in the first named patent application, the problem of completely filling the unit with the thermostatically responsive fluid during the course of assembly has been rather diflicult realizing that for its best performance the unit must be devoid of any air space after filling it with the thermostatic fluid, such as a silicone polymer fluid.

Therefore, it is one of the more important objects of this invention to provide for a novel unit construction in which the latter may be easily filled with the thermostatically responsive fluid after all assembly operations are completed.

Another important object is to provide for a novel construction in which a filler opening is expressly provided for that purpose and which is subsequently sealed.

It has been found that the provision for filling the interior of the unit after assembly simplifies such assembly and, at the same time, it assures complete filling with the elimination of all objectionable air pockets or spaces within.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent upon proceeding with the following description read in light of the accompanying drawing, in which the figure shows a sectional assembly view of a preferred embodiment.

Referring now to the drawing, a body I of suitable form serves as a container and is closed and sealed at its upper end portion by means of the shouldered washer 2 preferably soldered annu- 1 Claim. (Cl. 297-6) larly in position as at 3 and having a flange-like collar 4 bearing against the outer peripheral surface of the rubber diaphragm 5 as at 6, the flanged diaphragm having the depending or downwardly extending socket or well 1 to receive the shaft 8. The body I is provided with the inturned annular lip 9 which is rolled over as indicated before filling the body I with the thermostatically responsive fluid such as a silicone polymer fluid or the like. In order to accomplish the latter mentioned liquid filling the body is tapped at its lower end. as at H to receive the half round machine screw l2 bearing against the body with a gasket I3 interposed therebetween. Dot and dash lines It indicate the liquid within the body which latter member is predeterminedly filled to capacity and upon which determination the screw l2 and the gasket l3 are subsequently placed in position to serve as a closure as indicated.

It has been found that this relatively simple method of providing for a thermal element or capsule is economical and simple. It also permits of the rapid and complete body filling with these liquids which have a known and constant rate of expansion desirable for this type of performance.

In operation, it should be apparent that as the capsule is affected by the changes in temperature either due to circulation of water around them or by such fluid or liquids to be controlled, the liquid in the body chamber will expand or contract, thus causing the shaft or rod 8 to move inwardly or outwardly depending upon the manner in which the diaphragm 5 is acted upon by the change in temperatures.

It should of course be apparent that the specific details may vary substantially from the construction shown and described and it is therefore the desire to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim considered in light of the prior art.

I claim:

In a thermal element, the combination including a body, a flexible diaphragm having a central depending socket and an upper neck portion, a shaft receivable within the diaphragm socket and neck portion and axially movable therewith, means for positioning the said diaphragm within an upper end of the said body, the latter body having a fluid chamber substantially surrounding the socket of the said diaphragm, a thermally responsive fluid completely filling the said chamber and being in contact with the exterior of the socket of the said diaphragm, combined threaded and gasket plug means at the lower end of the,

said body for filling and sealing said body chamber relative to the said fluid, the said body having at its upper end an inturned annular lip, a flangelike collar having a ring portion bearing against the upper annular surface of the said diaphragm, a washer annularly sealed within the said body to form a shoulder for the support of the said diaphragm, the said inturned lip engaging the said collar to clamp the said diaphragm between the saiqgollar apq vvasher, the s aid diaphragm having an annular nck snugly engaging a portion of the shaft, the said collar having an annular portion surrounding the said diaphragm neck above the said upper annular surface of the said diaphragm. a q a EDMOND P. DE CRKENE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 509,525 Nagle Nov. 28, 1893 1364,08? Sawyer Julie 17, 1930 2,208,149 Vernet July 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number; Country Date 531,280 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1941 

